Display apparatus



S A RANK DISPLA'Y APPARATUS. FILED APR 12. 1920.

Jan. 23, 1923.

Patented nlian... 23, i223.

SHERMAN A. RANK, OF CHXCGO, ILLINOIS.

DSPLAY APPARATUS.

Application :filed April 12, 1920. Serial No. 373,128.

Be it lrnovvn that l, @HERMAN it. linnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Chicago, in the county of Cool/I and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful lmproveinents in Display Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in display apparatus of the type involving a mechanically operated dancing figure.

@ne of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a dancing figure which is yi-eldably supported in cri-operative relation with a vibratory platform.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective means for yieldably supporting the platform.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel cam structure for vibrating` the platform. j

ln the drawings, which illustrate one emliiodin'ient of my invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional. view, and

Figure 2 is a horizon-tal sectional view taken directly above the platform and actuating` means therefor.

fiimilarreference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures of the drawings. i

Referring to the drawings, my invention includes a frame structure which comprises side members 5-5 and end members @-62 spaced uprights 7 and 8 suitably connected to each side member 5, and a crossbar 9 connecting the uprights 7-7 at a point above the frame members 5 and 6.

.It platform l() is pivoted at one end to the end member 6a by fiat springs 1l. 1l. This platform extends substantially from the Wall 6 to the Wall 6, but terminates a little short thereof. er crossbar 12 is suitably connected to the side members 5-5. A. re-bent or U-shaped'flat spring 13 has one end suitably connected to the cross-bar 12 and its other end connected to the under side of the platform 10 at a point remote from the pivot end thereof.

A roller 14, having its axis arranged in a plane parallel With the axis of the pivot of the platform, is provided at its ends with bearing pins 15 and 16, which are respectively journaled in brackets 17-17 secured to the upright frame members 7-7. This roller 141- is disposed adjacent the free end of the platform 10, or, in other Words, adjacent that end opposite the pivot end of said platform. Fixedly secured to the roller 14 is a plurality of flexible cam fingers 18-18,` which, in this instance, are formed of leather. 'lhe fingers 18 are of sufficient length to engage the free Vend of the platform 10 and cause said platform to be intermittently depressed and released during constant rotation of the roller 14. From the foregoing, it will be seen thatthe roller 14 and fingers 18 constitute a cam, the roller constituting the body of the cam and the leather fingers 18, the cam fingers. The end member 6 of the frame structure is formed with a recess 19 to permit the free passage of the cam fingers 18 during their rotation. .any suitable means may be provided for op* erating this cam, but, in this particular instance, l have shown a hand-crank 16a, Which is connected to the pivot pin 16.`

lhilcrumed on the crossbar 9 is a lever 20, and fixedly secured to one end of this lever a display dancing figure, which is indicated as a whole by the reference letter A. Although figures of different forms may be readily substituted, l have illustrated a human figure having a body 21, and arms 22.22, the latter being pivoted to the body,

as at 2 The figure also includes two nz-ulti-jointed legs, each leg including an upper portion 24, a foot 25 and a connecting portion 26. rThe upper portion 24e is pivoted to the body, as at 27, and the interme diete portion 2G is pivoted to the upper portion 2li, at 28, and the foot 25 is pivoted to the intermediate portion, as at 29. rlhe weight of this figure is balanced. by a spring 30, which, at one end, is connected to the cross-bar 9 of the frame structure, as at 31, and Which, at its other end, is adjustably connected by means of a screw 32 to the end of the lever 2O opposite the display figure A.. By means of the spring1 30 and the adjusting screiv 32, the display gure can have its normal vertical position relative to the plat` form 10 adjusted to a nicety.

llhe upright frame members 7 and 8 are suitably connected at their upper ends with cross-bars The upright members 7 and S and cross-bars 33 constitute a supporting structure for an open-front canopy 84, which permits inspection of the dancing figure from the front end of the apparatus only. This canopy, as Will be noted,` also encloses the cam structure for vibrating the platform.

In operation, the figure A is first vertically adjusted so that the feet 25 thereof will have more or less contact with the platform l0 when the latter is in its normal position, as shown in Figure l. Upon operation of the cam, the platform l0 will be .depressed downwardly against the tension of the spring 18, and this downward movement will tend to permit the leg-niembers of the figure to assume positions in vertical alignment; that` is, the pivots 27, 28

'and 29 of each leg' will, at times, be posi tioned in alignment and in a plane at substantially right angles to the plane of the platform l0. is a result, the platform l0, as it returns to its normal position after being disengaged by one of the flexible fingers 18, will exert an upward thrust against thek figure, and. inasmuch as the pivots above mentioned are in alignment, a similar upward movement will be imparted to the figure. At other times, the pivots of the leg ni-eniloers will not be positioned as above described, so that the figure, as a whole, will not be elevated. Under these conditions, the intermittent movements of the platform will impart swinging movements between the various leg members of the figure, so as to cause said figure to assume all sorts of `grotesque dancing positions.

l Having,r thus described my what I claim is:

i. In a. display apparatus. the combination with a frame structure, of a platform pivoted at'the front end to said frame structure7 a spring for yieldably supporting said platform in a substantially horizontal plane, a display ligure disposed above and in-co-operative relation with said platform,

invention,

and means engageable with the rear end and upper side of the platform for vibrating said platform to transmit; movements to said displayY figure.

ln a display apparatus. the combination with a franie structure(` of a platform pivoted at thefrout end to said frame structure. a Ushaped spring' for vieldably supporting` said platform in a substantially horizontal plane. one end of said springr being' fixedly secured 'lo said frame strueture and the other end of said sprintr beingr lixedlv secured to the platform al, a point remote from the pivot end thereof, a displav figure disposed above and in eo-o iera tive relation with said platform, and elastic. means engagieable with the rear end and upper side of the platform for vibrating` said i'ilatforin against the tension of said U-shaped spi-ingr.

3, ln a displav apparatus, the combination with a frame structure. of a platform Pivoted at the front end to said frame structure5 a spring for `vicldably supportingr said platform in a substantially hoi-i Zontal plane. adisplay ligure disposed above and in (3o-operati ve relation with said platform, and means for vibrating' said platform to transmit movements to said displa \v figure. said vibrating; means including` a roller arranged adjacent the rear end of the platform and having` its axis arranged in a plane parallel with the axis of the pivot of said platform? elastic cam lingers carried by said roller for engaging the upper face and adjacent end of said platform. and means for actuating said roller.

ln. witness whereof. l have hereunto set. my hand at lhieago, Cook County. lllinois. this 9th day of April 1920.

SHERMAN A. RANK. 

